LOVELAND, Colo. — For students at Thompson Valley High School, math class doesn’t just happen in a textbook—it happens on a construction site.
First- and second-year students enrolled in the school’s Geometry in Construction program are teaming up with Berthoud Habitat for Humanity to build a real home for a family in need. The unique course blends classroom instruction with hands-on training, offering students the chance to connect formulas with framing, and equations with electrical layouts.
"We're building a house for people while using math that we learned in geometry," said first-year student Abigail Tally. "When I first joined this class, I was like 'I don't know how to build a house.'"
What began as uncertainty quickly transformed into enthusiasm. Abigail, following in the footsteps of her brothers who also took the class, found new confidence as the project progressed.
"Both my brothers did this class, and I already did algebra in middle school, so this was the next level up, and I was like, 'I'm building a house, that sounds fun,'" she added.
The program, now in its eighth year under instructor Kimberly Cronin, splits time between academics and application: three days in the classroom learning geometry and two days in the shop or on-site practicing construction.
"It's something unique to Thompson Valley," Cronin said. "I've seen multiple students from each household come into the program, which is very nice."
Cronin emphasized that the lessons extend far beyond math and construction. "I hope students learn that they can do anything that's in front of them," she explained. "Especially for the ladies, I want them to know that they can do whatever they want to do."
The house under construction is scheduled for completion in May 2026, aligning with the end of the academic year. By then, students will have gained not only technical skills but also teamwork, problem-solving, and community service experience.
For Habitat for Humanity, these partnerships are essential in addressing housing needs across Colorado while also inspiring the next generation of builders, engineers, and leaders. For students, it’s a chance to see their classroom knowledge come to life in tangible, community-changing ways.
"It was a really fun experience to be in this class, and I'm excited for the end result," Abigail shared.
The project stands as a testament to the power of blending education with community service, showing students that learning can literally help build a brighter future—brick by brick.
Originally reported by Kennedy Cook in CBS News.
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